Detoxing from Drugs and Chemicals: Restoring Your Health

Congratulations. You've detoxed successfully, for now anyway, so make the most of the new you and avoid that ever lurking relapse. The longer you can avoid a subsequent relapse the stronger you become. Whether you are detoxing from hard drugs such as heroin or methadone, alcohol, smoking, or other harmful agents that we often don't even consider to be drugs because they are tagged 'medicine', give your body the care it deserves and clean it from the inside. Even if the medications you are taking still need to be adhered to, there is something you can do to protect your body against the toxic insult.

Detoxing is not just about weaning yourself off an addictive substance. Long after we cease drug taking, the liver still retains a build up of toxins which continue to affect our health. When the liver is clogged it cannot perform its role in cleansing the body just as a sponge can only absorb a certain amount of dirt before it itself requires cleaning. The great news is this process is free and you don't need anybody else's help. You, and only you, have the power to heal your body in this way. The only help you require is food; the truly natural medicine.

It gets better too; this food is probably going to be cheaper than the food you are currently eating. In phase one the basic starting rule is to eat only natural food, not processed, flavoured, or with any ingredient that has a number for a name. For those recovering from a severe addiction illness, follow this basic formula for three months before beginning phase two. Remember that you are recovering from an addiction so stay away from other types of addictive substances like fast food and take-aways. Don't eat out; we're in a recession and you can't afford it anyway. Keep a stock of your favourite things at home that conform to the principles of phase one so that you always have something you can access quickly when cravings strike.

One further step you can take to eliminate toxins at a faster rate is to exercise. Really, raise a sweat. Your skin is naturally equipped to excrete toxins, the more often you sweat the greater the rate of cleansing. Make it do its job. Don't make excuses about not having enough time to exercise every day. If you own a car, sell it, put your money in the bank and ride your bicycle to work or the train station. Remember the first couple of weeks are always the hardest, after the initial start-up period you will feel the improvement.

A final reminder: when we are eliminating toxins from our body, we will feel slightly unwell during the first week or two and can expect nausea, headache and fatigue. These are all signs that your body is functioning normally and the detox is working; better out than in. Try to be optimistic because these unpleasant side effects will subside and that's when the real benefits begin.

Tip: Drink lots of water to speed up the elimination of toxins, this will also help to reduce the impact of the side-effects.

Note: This eating pattern is suitable for everybody therefore relatives and friends who share your living space can benefit as well as providing you with moral support.

Ready to enter phase two? Read this personal guide for a successful phase two detox eating plan .